Future Island-Island’s Post

As the UK go to the polls today to decide the country's direction for the next 5 years, I often think about Design's ability to effect societal change at national scale. We know that Design can often work at grassroots level by effecting change directly with people, communities and organisations. But how effective is it at influencing or even contributing to larger national scale changes? Sure, we have the growing popularity of Policy Innovation Labs emerging globally, but if you're not part of that ecosystem, how can design research contribute? I have been exploring this space in the last few years, wondering how within the scope of my network and influence, can I contribute and actually know that I'm affecting change. I was fortunate to have been invited into an area of social concern that covers both policy implementation through to policy making. In the last 2 years, I have been working with Professor Greta Defeyter and Nicholas Spencer on co-designing a new Holidays Activities and Food (HAF) programme. It is a UK government funded programme to support disadvantaged children during the school holidays by providing healthy meals and enriching activities to school aged children, 5-16-years of age. Our work focused on older children (11-16 year olds, as research suggested that they were not engaging). The small-scale intervention of co-design workshops has led to changes in how HAF programmes are being delivered to meet young persons's needs in the four local areas that we worked with initially. The workshops were the catalyst for the change, but there were also a lot of behind the scenes 'designing' that happened before and after to truly make a difference at both local and national levels. It also helps that we have the UK's foremost expert in the subject area with access to policy makers on our team! We reflected on our experience through the lens of #designforpolicy in our paper presented at the Design Research Society 2024 conference held in Boston last week. My main takeaways: designing for policy requires access to the policy space, understanding how to navigate its entangled and interrelated socio-material arrangements while still delivering pragmatic short and long-term outcomes. https://lnkd.in/emfU7n9w

Constructive Futures at UKREiiF 2024 & Pavilion Seminars I accompanied a cohort of students, apprentices, and mentors who assembled at 8 a.m. at Leeds Train Station. The group was led by founders Natalie Sarabia-Johnston and Jenny Kitchen of ‘Constructive Futures’, an organisation that supports the young generation, including women, in exploring new opportunities within the construction sector. Constructive Futures also encourages industry leaders to embrace their theme: "Nurturing today's youth - empowering tomorrow's leaders." After a 20-minute walk to the UKREiiF 2024 event, the group was divided into smaller groups. The students were encouraged to visit the various exhibition halls and attend seminars and Pavilions before the luncheon reception. Following lunch, the mentors were interviewed and filmed by the students, allowing the students to learn about their mentors' backgrounds, experiences, and advice for working within the industry. At the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough pavilion, the fast growth cities event focused on the theme of the Cambridge Phenomenon and how to develop it with the community at its heart. The event was moderated by Mike Rigby, and the speakers included Peter Freeman, Chair of Homes England; Jackie Sadek, Chair of the UK Innovation Corridor; and Councillor Mike Davey, Leader of Cambridge City Council. The discussion also highlighted the urgent need to incorporate youth training into the construction industry. In conversation with Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, the shadow housing secretary and deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner MP announced a 40% affordable housing target for developments delivered through the party’s New Towns policy. This policy includes "robust design codes," an "infrastructure first" approach, and green spaces with good transport links to towns and city centres. These targets are similar to those put forward by the speakers at the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough pavilion. At least there seems to be some consistency in supporting future new towns. To turbo-charge new housing growth and meet public expectations across the UK, we need more young people entering the construction industry and acquiring new skills through advanced technology and teaching methods. Therefore, support, work experience opportunities, and investment are required. #UKREiiF2024 #Leeds #students #apprentices #STEM #education #colleges #universities #government #dluhc #homesengland #gla #socialhousing #localauthorities #housingassociations 

The divide between rural and urban education persists, and the time to bridge this gap is now. According to UNESCO, nearly 617 million children worldwide lack basic skills in reading and mathematics. This staggering statistic highlights the urgent need for action. But this isn't just about numbers. It's about the millions of young minds whose futures hang in the balance. It's about the dreams that are stifled because of limited access to quality education. It's about ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to thrive. 1. Investing in Infrastructure: By building schools and providing essential resources like books, computers, and internet access, we can create an environment conducive to learning. 2. Empowering Teachers: Training and supporting teachers in rural areas is key to improving educational outcomes. When teachers are equipped with the right tools and knowledge, students benefit immensely. 3. Digital Innovation: Leveraging technology can bridge geographical barriers. Online learning platforms, interactive lessons, and educational apps can bring quality education to remote areas. 4. Community Engagement: Engaging parents, local leaders, and communities fosters a sense of ownership and commitment to education. When everyone is involved, the impact is far-reaching. 5. Collaborative Partnerships: Collaboration is key to success. By fostering partnerships between educational institutions, government agencies, NGOs, and private sectors, we can create synergies that amplify our impact. Together, we can pool resources, share best practices, and implement sustainable solutions. 6. Scholarship Programs: Providing scholarships and financial assistance to students from rural backgrounds opens doors to higher education and future opportunities. These strategies not only address the immediate challenges but also pave the way for a more equitable and prosperous society. Imagine a world where every child, no matter where they come from, has access to quality education. It's not just a dream; it's a vision we can turn into reality. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this pressing issue. How do you think we can bridge the rural-urban education gap? Himannshu Sharma, COSCU #HimannshuSharma #COSCU #EducationEquality #EmpowerRuralYouth #TechForGood #GlobalGoals #ChangeMakers #EducationForAll #BridgingDivides #RuralUrbanEducation #InclusiveLearning #FutureofEducation

We are continuing with some key takeaways from #TheClassConference2024, this time from the Circle Stage, of the session Collaboration Pillar: Building Action Plans Together. The collaboration panel explored how we can work better together to achieve shared goals in the student housing sector. Here are some of the takeaways from the panel: 🗣️Establishing a Common Language: It was mentioned during the panel that differing frameworks make it difficult to collaborate. Panelists stressed the importance of agreeing on a shared language to enable clearer communication across stakeholders, making it easier to align goals and strategies. 🇪🇺 Leveraging EU and Local Policies : The panelists discussed how the EU could play a key role in creating a common framework that encouraencouragesge collaborative action. Proposals included establishing an EU coordinator to oversee sector-wide projects. A similar figure (national housing coordinator) could exist both on local and national levels to better integrate student housing with broader city development. 💡 Funding for Mixed-Use and Socially Impactful Developments : Panelists noted a gap in funding incentives for projects with social impact and mixed-use developments. They emphasized the need for subsidies or financial incentives to promote shared and affordable housing options, rather than focusing solely on single-use structures. This approach could enhance the social value and long-term affordability of housing initiatives The conversation doesn’t stop here. Our 2025 programme will build on these ideas to foster stronger partnerships and unlock new opportunities for collaboration. We'd like to thank the incredible speakers that contributed to this panel: Amy Dimond, Marius Ceulen , and Piotr Lisowski, with moderator Frank Uffen. Stay tuned for further insights and updates on how we’ll continue this momentum into next year! 🌍 #Collaboration #StudentLiving #Accommodation

✨ Memories from the Places to Grow Conference 2024 ✨ Last month, we were thrilled to dive deeper into the economic dimensions of early childhood education and care (ECEC) with keynote speaker Daniel Prokop from PAQ Research. Drawing on his research within the context of the Czech Republic, Daniel shared valuable insights that resonate beyond national borders: ⚡️ Good ECEC matters: The data speaks for itself, with positive impacts at the regional and individual level ⚡️ ECEC is the most effective program in education, proven to have long-term benefits ⚡️ Quality, timing, and parental involvement are crucial for success ⚡️ Recognize the structural barriers: insufficient state funding, high costs for households, fragmentation of services ⚡️ Good practices exist! Such as Preschool Špálova, Ostrava-Poruba and Centre for Preschoolers, Chrudim. Both show the value of establishing strong relationships with parents and equipping them with tools, habits, and resources). 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑦 𝑤𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑤𝑒 𝑑𝑜. 𝐵𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘. 𝐵𝑦 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠, 𝑤𝑒 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑡𝑜𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑙: 𝑎 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑛. 🌱 Stay tuned for more conference memories in the coming weeks. 💫💫💫 🎥 livia valkova 📸 Martin Faltejsek #ECD #earlyyearsmatter #earlychildhooddevelopment #investinthefuture #supportingfamilies #ECEC #collaboration #socialimpactinitiative #conference #peerlearning #czechrepublic

Youth and educators from Argentina, India, Malaysia, South Africa, Turkey, Uganda and UAE attended an online debate planned by three global student ambassadors , Khyati from Sarala Birla Gyan Jyoti, India and Amy and Venecia from Colegio Del Arce, Argentina. The adjudicators Abhilasha Singh 🍉 Sian Farrelly and Zulkhipley Bin Salleh were very impressed with the arguments from both teams. In summary, read some of their insights below: PROPOSITION - Beyond academics school fosters the development of soft skills like communication, teamwork and adaptability. - Some schools are increasingly providing opportunities for global citizenship and taking action to embrace the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. - Schools foster the development of skills and activities that are valued by employers. - Schools often integrate technology into learning that helps students become proficient in various digital tools and platforms. - Schools instill essential life skills such as time management, resilience and discipline. OPPOSITION - Schools are implementing outdated curricula and systems stuck in some traditions irrelevant for a future that will no longer exist. - There are limited focus on emotional intelligence to know HOW to manage conflict and relationships. - There is a mismatch between subject content and desired careers. - We are not taught how to face failure or criticism – this affects our mental well being. - School does not place enough focus on how to actually work together as a whole society, including others in the world to achieve common goals like sustainability. Abhilasha Singh 🍉so rightly said, We need to go back and re-evaluate how the youth really view school and what it offers them.' This debate had all educators thinking and reflecting on their own practices. Respecting youth voices is very important! They are more than capable of driving change. They have planned, hosted and delivered an online debate on a topic close to their hearts and we are still processing their call. Today, we heard how they still value school, but how do we update our systems to match the world and societies our youth will face tomorrow? I would like to hear your comments.

🚀 Exciting Industry-University Collaboration! 🚀   I am thrilled to announce a groundbreaking collaboration with Development Solutions Australia and Deakin University through an Australian Government Department of Education National Industry PhD project tackling key challenges in the social-disability housing sector. The project explores the use of strategies designed to foster social connectivity and positive health outcomes for residents in new models of housing envisioned to include a mix of people who may be financially disadvantaged, living with disabilities, and/or elderly. This housing will also integrate the use of modular/prefab construction. Deakin University’s Perspective from Professor Richard Tucker “To address Australia’s evolving housing needs, we must move beyond traditional design models. With Australia’s diverse cultural makeup and the increasing numbers of people living with disabilities and aging populations, our research at HOME focuses on understanding and designing for this diversity. This groundbreaking collaboration with Development Solutions Australia and Deakin University aligns perfectly with our goal to develop universal design solutions that cater to various cultural backgrounds, ages, and abilities. By integrating higher degree research insights and industry innovations, we are committed to creating housing that supports every individual’s well-being and fosters inclusive communities.” From Damien Crough, Principal of Development Solutions Australia and industry supervisor: "This project is aligned with our company’s goal of better serving the housing needs and health of disadvantaged/marginalised communities. The National Industry PhD Program is an incredible opportunity with much potential for social impact as well as for commercialisation.” Student Perspective from Joe Sehee, PhD Candidate at Deakin University: "As someone who had previously experienced loneliness living in a single-family detached home and who now resides in an intentional community which includes of people living with disabilities and aging in place, I know full well the health benefits associated with living in a place where people look after one another. This project builds upon the pioneering work I’ve been involved with heading up Social Health Australia where I’ve been helping to bring to the fore new ways of forging meaningful human connection. Round 5 of the National Industry PhD Program is scheduled to open next February 2025 For more information on how to apply, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gpVsGZZ6 Thank you to Trang Tran for your support and facilitation! #universities #commercialisation #researchanddevelopment #housing #architecture #communities #PhDscholarships #AEA #universityindustrycollaboration #industryphd

🗺 Building Equitable Education Systems with Data for Developing Nations Our latest article explores how developing nations can use data to create more equitable education systems. By examining how countries like India, the United States, and members of the European Union are utilising big data, we provide insights into building equity-minded datasets that uncover disparities and drive targeted interventions. Learn about the challenges, the power of disaggregation, and how collaboration can transform data into a tool for social justice. Read the full article here 👇 https://lnkd.in/gyDf4gfd

OTESSA Journal Vol. 4 No. 1 (2024) Towards a Critical Co-construction of Equity Communities of Practice in Education by Lorayne Robertson, Jessica Trinier, and Roland van Oostveen This article explores how we can collaboratively reshape learning environments to be more inclusive and equitable. This insightful article dives deep into critical equity practices, fostering community, and the importance of co-construction in educational spaces. #EquityInEducation #InclusiveLearning #EdTech #OpenAccess #CommunitiesOfPractice

Year after year, advocates overwhelmingly tell us the Education Equity Forum is hugely helpful to their work. Wondering what you can learn at this year’s #EdEquityForum2024? Check out the program here: https://lnkd.in/gnJRWXr4